Basic Riding Errors

252965 Views 799 Replies 229 Participants Last post by Stuart fry, 28 d ago

.OrgOwner

Discussion Starter · Aug 8, 2007

What is the most common skill that you see inexperienced riders either not using or using incorrectly? Street or track does not matter, lets compile a list.

781 - 800 of 800 Posts

Catch22

· #781 · May 27, 2016

A quite large plumbing truck is now in your lane, can see the driver's door and rest of truck heading closer to you. Right then and there is an epiphany of having a choice of a brake or a throttle yank... "When it doubt gas it."

Brakes are for poo seas...

Signed,
NOLTT (nice out living throttled trucks )

Smitty45

· #782 · Aug 1, 2016

Assuming everyone can read minds. Failure to use turn signals.

Jim16

· #783 · Aug 21, 2016

shoe laces

short sleeves and sunny days

"I'm going to roll over these dog turds!"

"These birds on the road will take flight before I get to them!"

"It's cold.Let's put a scarf on."

Jim16

· #784 · Aug 21, 2016

"it's definitely not going to rain.No rain pants"

lanbrown

· #785 · Aug 21, 2016

Smitty45 said:
Assuming everyone can read minds. Failure to use turn signals.

How about leaving the turn signal on.

Smitty45

· #786 · Aug 22, 2016

lanbrown said:
How about leaving the turn signal on.

That too...

954Kevin

· #787 · Aug 22, 2016 (Edited)

not really a riding error, but i never use the kill switch on my 954. every time i wash it i unknowingly flip it when im drying the bike off and it puts me into a micro panic when i go to start it up. my first instinct is always check the kick stand is up while eyeballing the key to be sure its "on." then, like clockwork, my mind spends a split second running the possibility that i got some water somewhere i shouldnt have just before i remember i musta flipped the kill switch while drying. this all takes place inside a couple seconds.. you would think id remember the last ten times this same scenario took place. its always a sigh of relief when i do! lol

unslow1

· #788 · Aug 22, 2016

You're not alone, Kevin. I've bypassed my sidestand switch, but not my "emergency" kills (yet), and it happens to me all the time. :O

Not sure if it's been covered yet, but on occassion I've forgotten to tend to (lubricate) my chain. Once, I noticed while on a ride with others, and I said to myself "What BOZO is running a dry chain and making all that noise?!" yup. it was me. And another while riding through a construction zone, and heard the echo of (again) my dry chain bouncing off the concrete "construction" barriers.

Hasn't happened in several years, but it has happened.

fj1200rj

· #789 · Jun 23, 2017

I know some people swear by A Twist of the Wrist and A Twist of the Wrist II, but I found these vids to be very helpful:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?annot...&feature=iv&src_vid=ALBTZ4FUZxQ&v=o5P5BxpJGxM

Reactions: 2

Squid

· #790 · Jun 23, 2017

Lucky bike. Subbed.

Gunk

· #791 · Jun 24, 2017

lanbrown said:
How about leaving the turn signal on.

That's my worst habit :doh:

Reactions: 1

jondog9

· #792 · Aug 1, 2017

Ran off the road about a month ago. The bike gods were watching over me tho. Didn't hit any roadside furniture, landed on a big soft pile of dirt and manzanita. But it totally scratched 2 of the four fairings and broke the front fender and front upper. Expensive repair! I had on all my gear, just got a little whack in the shoulder from the clip-on.

So how did it happen?
I've relived that moment a hundred times now.
Bottom line is lack of concentration, and the dreaded fixation.
I've had some oh-s**t moments, coming into a turn a little too hot, but I've learned to fight the intuitive response to fixate on where it's going to crash.

Oh crap, I'm coming in too hot!
Focus on your line thru the turn!
Focus on your line thru the turn!
Dont grab brakes! Don't chop the throttle!
Focus on your line thru the turn!

Well this day I failed to employ that tactic. Until you get used to it, it's a thing you have to consciously remember while riding, because it seems counter-intuitive to not look at where you're going to crash.

I was enjoying one of my favorite canyon/mountain roads, came thru a fairly blind left turn, had a beautiful line. So when I passed the apex and could see the road straighten out, I upshifted, whacked the throttle, and came charging out.
That's where things went wrong due to my lack of concentration.
As the road straightened out, I saw a sharp right-hander coming up a little too soon.
And the road dropped, a slight downhill, which unloaded my bike, adding to the problem.
Oh-Shite!!

I could have cleaned that turn, I know it. But I forgot to not panic and gave the bike the input that puts you off the road. Chopped the throttle, grabbed the brakes, (which instantly stood the bike up and took me out of the turn). As I was headed off the road, I knew right then what I did wrong.
Too late.
Total rookie mistake.

Moral of the story, don't let your concentration slip.

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Reactions: 4

Gunk

· #793 · Aug 1, 2017

The one thing I have managed to learn and master is to dab a bit of rear brake if you are carrying a bit too much speed in a bend, it tightens the line a bit, if it's wet however you're screwed!

Reactions: 2

jondog9

· #794 · Aug 1, 2017 (Edited)

fj1200rj said:
I know some people swear by A Twist of the Wrist and A Twist of the Wrist II, but I found these vids to be very helpful:

It helped! :grin

Hmmm, hard to take a chic in stilettos and hot-ass shorts/bikini top seriously in this case. Obviously she rides, maybe some nice leathers that fit her gorgeous body would be a little more legit. And she'd still look as sexy.
Everyone's a critic, no? :boobies: :shades:

Reactions: 1

francisharvey

· #795 · Aug 22, 2017

trying to do whatever he wanted to be done in the very last minute/second, most leading to accidents.
______________________________________
Carpet Cleaning Annapolis

fj1200rj

· #796 · Aug 22, 2017

jondog9 said:
It helped me get a boner! :grin

Hmmm, hard to take a chic in stilettos and hot-ass shorts/bikini top seriously in this case. Obviously she rides, maybe some nice leathers that fit her gorgeous body would be a little more legit. And she'd still look as sexy.
Everyone's a critic, no? :boobies: :shades:

Easy Jon, there's kids in here...

Zonehead

· #797 · Aug 22, 2017

Pukker up moments when your brownie gets all tense. Bends too fast.. braking too late. Not reading the road ahead. Not thinking of other road users.
But the main issue I think is riding without lights on and no protective gear

Reactions: 1

jondog9

· #798 · Aug 23, 2017

fj1200rj said:
Easy Jon, there's kids in here...

There, fixed it. :kiss

arthury

· #799 · Jul 26, 2020

Coming to a STOP with front brake ON and front wheel not straightened up.
Perfect pivot to drop your bike.

Stuart fry

· #800 · 28 d ago

SamoanzRR said:
fixate on something instead of looking where they want the bike to go, my friend just got a new r6 and was going around a corner but looked straight ahead and went off the road trying to keep up with another rider.....another guy was doing a wheelie and should've let go of the bike but held onto it and scrape his knees down to the bone (IDIOTS!!!)

Target fixation is a big one for newbies.

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